Sicily Museum Sets Precedent for Return of Artifacts

 

In early January of 2022, the Antonio Salina Archeological Museum in Palermo sent the ‘Fagan Artifact’ back to its home country of Greece. The Fagan Artifact is a piece of the Parthenon, depicting Peitho or Artemis sitting on a throne, was given to the Palermo museum by its previous owner Robert Fagan in 1820 after the archaeologist spent much of his life on the island. It has since remained in Palermo and will be reunited with the entirety of the Parthenon for the first time in centuries. The archaeological museum will receive two ancient Italian works in exchange for the piece.

This exchange hopes to bring a solution to the long lasting debate on the return of ancient artifacts to their home country. The director of the Acropolis, Nikolaos Stampolidis, commented on the exchange as being truly important: “Our beloved sister Sicily has paved the way for Parthenon friezes kept in other European cities to also be returned to Greece, above all in London and at the British Museum,” referring to the debate stemming from the refusal of the British Museum to return their housed Parthenon sculptures back home to Greece.

The Intergovernmental Commission of UNESCO for the Promotion of the Restitution of Cultural Heritage to Countries of Origin (ICPRCP), has not reversed their 1984 decision, but requests that the British Museum consider this Italian act of good faith and return the Parthenon sculptures to be returned to Greece.

 

– Frank Pastula